who uses their Leica M in the studio?

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jaimiepeeters

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Who uses their Leica M camera in the studio with studio flash. Maybe portraits, models, products, whatever.. :)

I'd like to talk to these users about all the ins and outs how to use a Leica M in the studio.
 
Not any help at all, but the reason I sold all of my Leica gear and bought Nikon was because the nature of work I do for $$$ switched from field to studio, and Leica wasn't cutting it regarding precise framing and close focus, and, especially, an affordable digital option.

If you really wanted, you could put together a nice studio camera package based on used Nikon equipment for the cost of a single Leica lens, and keep your Leica gear--in retrospect, I'm sorry I did not do that.
 
I do......I use my m3 and m2 with my studio lights......I don't want to use my m6ttl with the lights.....never had any problems as far as cameras and lights go....I use a Sekonic flash meter to get the correct exposure...........works well for me....

cheers, michael
 
I still own digital X100 so I'm ok for $$$ work in the studio with Elinchrom 400w set, but I would like to see what kind of images I'd get with a Leica.

With the Konica Hexar I did try it but I noticed that (since I like really hard shadows) the highlights lost all detail and the images looked kind of destroyed. I have no experience what so ever in the studio with film but now that I do own a Leica I would really love to learn to make the best of it and see if it gives a special kind of character/feel to the pictures other than digital does.
 
michaelbialecki said:
I do......I use my m3 and m2 with my studio lights......I don't want to use my m6ttl with the lights.....never had any problems as far as cameras and lights go....I use a Sekonic flash meter to get the correct exposure...........works well for me....

cheers, michael
Click to expand...

Whats your settings usually? With the X100 I usually shoot studio (models/fashion) with S 1/125 f11 iso200... My 400W Elinchrom set to 4 or 5 which is 4/6 or 5/6 of its power. I like hard shadows so light from side/angle.
 
well, i have several times, it is generally okay except for a couple of quirks:

* sync speed is 1/50 which is okay except when you want to use a
90mm for portrait, then you might have to wing it and be careful or use a tripod.

However, i found it a non-issue to use 35mm or even 50mm for
studio work. this makes it a bit special compared to the many dslr
users who tend to use 85mm for portrait. Going at 50mm means
having to be quite close to the sitter. a very different experience.

check out jeanloup sieff, he used the 28mm in many of
the studio/daylight photos.


raytoei

here's one from m4p with summilux taken last year. film is plus-x (i think)
you can view more from here: http://www.modelmayhem.com/raytoei <- click on the profile pix
 

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I have used an M9 with a studio set-up. Results were stellar. Precise framing is a bit of a red herring. With the camera on a tripod, you review a test shot and tweak the camera position if you have to. However, I will say that the small apertures that I use with strobe and the generally excellent results from all modern digital cameras at their base ISO's negate some of the advantages that an M9 would have in other situations over, say, a D700. Once you are at f:11/ISO 100-200, IMHO, many lenses perform equally well.

If the medium is film, then you may have to do some homework to account for parallax with your camera-lens combination if you are using an M and a longer lens. On the one hand, I have never worried about it. On the other, more often than not I want to use LF or SLRs in a studio-tripod situation.
 
I am shooting about 90% Leica in the studio - hotlights or daylight.... M2 with 35 1.4 and M3 with 50 2.0 and 90 2.0. Entirely portrait and model work. The other 10% is 6x6 TLR.
 
I used to do some pretty successful shoots with my M2 & 90mm V1 Summicron, connected to an old 5x5 foot Broncolor Hazylight in my studio. Bought it from a fashion photographer from London, who used it for shooting 8x10 fashion chromes. The Leica is great for rapid, fleeting-moment photography.
 
I've shot my M6 in a studio once or twice with Elinchrome lights. I can't say it was a particularly easy experience because the film I had loaded in was at 640 and the Leica only appeared once the real shoot had been done, but it was fun. I would definitely try again with a slower film. Much slower. Shooting at f/16 with the lights moved all the way back and at their lowest power isn't particularly convenient.
 
jaimiepeeters said:
Whats your settings usually? With the X100 I usually shoot studio (models/fashion) with S 1/125 f11 iso200... My 400W Elinchrom set to 4 or 5 which is 4/6 or 5/6 of its power. I like hard shadows so light from side/angle.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I am not really sure what my settings are......I just know that my shutter speeds are under 60. I use 100 asa film and have never had any problems between controlling the power of my lights and getting the aperture that I wanted.......

cheers, michael
 
I imagine you might have some issues with precision - framing, tight/shallow depth of field focusing and visualizing the parallax viewing effect on lenses 35mm and wider. However, given the nature of your work (not polished, perfectly levelled, sharpness-oriented, gritty, etc.), I don't think this will be a problem. I say it with admiration, not criticism. I think a Leica M-mount system would compliment your work.
 
Today I'm going to give it a first try (Jordanstarr) and I indeed hope to get some gritty images out of it. I was wondering if film might not be as resistant to harsh light as digital is.. but it should be the other way around right?

I'm going to shoot some portraits of a new face model today, black and white, using Elinchrom 400w. White wall and light coming from an angle above her face. Fingers crossed, but I'll be sure to share the results here :)
 
KenD said:
I am shooting about 90% Leica in the studio - hotlights or daylight.... M2 with 35 1.4 and M3 with 50 2.0 and 90 2.0. Entirely portrait and model work. The other 10% is 6x6 TLR.
Click to expand...

have you experienced anything different from digital while shooting film?
 
raytoei@gmail.com said:
well, i have several times, it is generally okay except for a couple of quirks:

* sync speed is 1/50 which is okay except when you want to use a
90mm for portrait, then you might have to wing it and be careful or use a tripod.

However, i found it a non-issue to use 35mm or even 50mm for
studio work. this makes it a bit special compared to the many dslr
users who tend to use 85mm for portrait. Going at 50mm means
having to be quite close to the sitter. a very different experience.

check out jeanloup sieff, he used the 28mm in many of
the studio/daylight photos.


raytoei

here's one from m4p with summilux taken last year. film is plus-x (i think)
you can view more from here: http://www.modelmayhem.com/raytoei <- click on the profile pix
Click to expand...

That is very nice, Ray. I would have no problem with any Leica M in the studio but what has held me back is the studio itself. Space is expensive and I got tired of lugging my lighting setup/backgrounds, etc. all around just trying to get established.

Thanks again for posting that image.:angel:
 
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